Clip for steel stud walls

ABSTRACT

A clip for steel stud walls, including a steel stud having a stud width; a front surface; a back surface; a pair of fasteners being set apart an inner width, the inner width sized at least as large as the stud width and the steel stud being positioned between the fasteners.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fasteners for steel stud walls and more particularly to fasteners that allow for deflection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Homes have long been built with wood studs, commonly referred to as 2×4 lumber. As the amount of uses for wood increased and the consumption within the known uses increased, heavy pressure has been placed on the supply of wood. At this time, this pressure is severe enough that it is being felt in the rain forests of South America.

The use of steel for the structure of buildings has been one solution to the over consumption of trees. Buildings, however stationary they may seem, are constantly moving. Temperature and weight causes the structure to heave at times and contract at other times. Wood is quite flexible and withstands normal changes with minimal problems. The steel, however, has a tendency to buckle under these changes. Therefore, builders using steel studs allow for deflection, that is movement of the structure.

A variety of devices have been developed to allow for deflection. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,915 (Ruggles et al.) shows a clip joined to the top track, which braces against the ceiling. While this does allow for deflection, the clip does not secure about the stud.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,898 (Josey) discloses a fastener that joins steel studs to the top or bottom track and nominally allows for deflection. Specifically, the inventor here proposes the use of a double sided foam tape on either end of the stud. Certainly, the tape will loses its resilience over time and poses a difficult problem, i.e. how to avoid getting dirt on the tape.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,087 (diGirolamo) discloses a bracket that joins a steel stud to a top track and such bracket can be fastened in a manner to allow for deflection. This structure, however, requires the drilling of four holes and use of a socket set to install.

What is needed is a clip that is snap fit into place that secures the steel stud to the top track. The clip should allow for deflection. The clip may also provide an aperture for a fastener to communicate between the top track and the clip. Most desirably, the clip, while designed for use on the top track should also be usable on the bottom track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a clip that is snap fit into place, securing the steel stud to the top track. The clip allows for deflection. The clip may also provide an aperture for a fastener to communicate between the top track and the clip. The present inventive clip, while designed for use on the top track, is also usable on the base track.

The present invention is a clip for steel stud walls and may be provided with a clip portion and a steel stud. The steel stud may have a stud width. The clip portion may have a front surface, a back surface, and a pair of fasteners being set apart an inner width. The inner width preferably is sized at least as large as the stud width such that the steel stud can be positioned between the fasteners. The fasteners may be structured to be attachable to either a top track or a base track, while being positioned about the steel stud.

Advantageously, the present clip is a selective fastener and may secure a steel stud to the top track or base track with or without the aid of screws.

Also as an advantage the present fastener is slidably joined about the steel stud, allowing for temperature and weight to flex the dimensions of the walls, i.e. deflection.

As still yet another advantage, the present clip is connectable either to the top track or base track.

These and other advantages will become clear through reading the below detailed description together with reference to the appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a partial view of a steel stud wall with the clip joining the steel stud to the top track and the upper fastener exploded away from the clip;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of a steel stud wall with the fasteners of the clip biasing against opposing sides of the steel stud;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the clip;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the clip;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the clip;

FIG. 6 is a right end view of the clip;

FIG. 7 is a left end view of the clip;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the clip; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention preferably is a steel stud and clip combination which may include a steel stud wall 10 and a clip 30. The clip 30 may join the steel stud 16 to the top track 14 or base track 12 and allow for deflection. This inventor's preferred mode of making and using the invention is fully described below.

The base track 12, top track 14 and steel stud 16 may be made in the manner customarily available and in use at the time of this disclosure. Generally, the base track 12 will be secured to the floor or other foundational point. The top track 12 will be secured to the ceiling and the studs 16 will traverse between the base track 12 and top track 14. A lower fastener 20, such as a screw, may join the steel stud 16 to the base track 12, passing through both the base track 12 and steel stud 16 as shown in FIG. 1. As an alternative, the clip 30, as will be described below, can be used in accordance with the description below in lieu of the lower fastener 20.

The steel stud 16 has a stud width 18. For the purposes herein, the stud width 18 is defined as the distance between opposing surfaces of the steel stud 16 such that the opposing surfaces fall within planes extending perpendicular to the length of the wall 10. Steel studs available on the market come in several different widths and others may be made available in the future. All of these studs are intended to be encompassed within the scope of this invention. The stud width 18 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The clip 30 may join the steel stud 16 to the top track 14, principally shown in FIGS. 3-7. Preferably, the clip 30 is monolithic, e.g. of a unitary piece of material, having a back surface 32, a front surface 34, a top edge 40, a bottom edge 42, a right end 36, a left end 38, and a pair of fasteners 46. The words “top”, “bottom”, “left”, and “right” are for reference only and are not to be read limiting on the invention. Such terms have the plain English meaning when the clip 30 is joined to a top track 14, and have the opposite of the plain English meaning when joined to the bottom track 12, e.g. top edge is on the bottom, right edge is on the left side when the clip is joined to the bottom track 12. An aperture 44 may be defined through the front and back surfaces 34, 32. Such aperture is sized to receive an upper fastener 22, FIG. 1, which may be used to secure the clip 30 relatively immovable with respect to the top track 14.

The fasteners 46 are separated a distance referred to herein as the inner width 48. The inner width 48 is defined as the distance between the closest edges of the fasteners 46, see FIG. 4. The inner width 48 is sized the same size or larger than the stud width 18. This allows for the stud 16 to be positioned between the fasteners 46 in a puzzle-like fashion, embracing or biasing against the opposing sides of the stud 16 that are not held by the top track 14. (See FIG. 2). The clip 30, while partially surrounding the steel stud 16, preferably does not fixedly secure to the stud 16. The stud 16, likewise, is not fixedly secured to the top track 14. Rather, the clip 30 and top track 14 in combination form a channel, specifically defined by the sides of the track and the fasteners, through which the stud 16 passes. In this manner of vertical sliding securement, the stud 16 has been connected to the top track 14 with full allowance for deflection.

The fasteners 46 desirably are curls, although other shapes may be used, as this provides for sufficient contact area to bias against the stud 16 and to ease the connection between the clip 30 and top track 14. A portion of the top track 14 may be positioned between the back surface 32 and the fasteners 46 and more particularly the tips 50 of the fasteners 46. Pointed tips 50 may be formed into the ends of the fasteners 46 for extra grip. Upper fastener 22, preferably a screw, may fixedly secure the clip 30 to the top track 14 through aperture 44. Most desireably, the clip 30 is friction fit to the top track 14 or bottom track 12, replacing the need for a screw or other fastener.

In operation, a base track 12 is secured to a floor or other foundational point and the top track 14 is secured to the ceiling. Studs 16 are positioned within the tracks provided by the base track 12 and top track 14 in the traditional manner. A lower fastener 20 traditionally secures the stud 16 to the base track 12 or the newly developed clip 30 may be used in lieu of the lower fastener 20. The clip 30 is positioned about the stud 16 with fasteners on opposing sides and pushed towards the top track 14 until fastened. An upper fastener 22 may secure the clip 30 to the top track 14, precluding laterally movement, while allowing vertical movement, e.g. deflection.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, the clip 30 may be used to join the stud 16 to the base track 12 to better control lateral movement. However, gravity can interfere with the ability of the clip 30 to allow for deflection when joined to the base track 12. 

1) A steel stud wall, comprising: a base track; a top track; a steel stud having a stud width; a lower fastener joining the steel stud to the base track; and a clip joining the steel stud to the top track, the clip being monolithic and having a front surface, a back surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a right end, a left end, a pair of fasteners having tips and being set apart an inner width, and an aperture defined through the front and back surfaces, the inner width sized at least as large as the stud width, the top track being positioned between the back surface and the tips, and the stud being positioned between the fasteners. 2) Steel stud walls hardware, comprising: a front surface; a back surface; a top edge; a bottom edge; a right end; a left end; and a pair of fasteners being set apart an inner width, the fasteners joined to the back surface, the inner width being sized to receive a steel stud therein. 3) The device of claim 2 wherein the front surface, the back surface, the top edge, the bottom edge, the right end, the left end, and the pair of fasteners are of a unitary piece of material. 4) The device of claim 2 further comprising an aperture defined through the front and back surfaces. 5) The device of claim 2 further comprising a steel stud positioned between the fasteners. 6) The device of claim 2 further comprising a top track being positioned between the back surface and the tips. 7) The device of claim 2 further comprising a bottom track being positioned between the back surface and the tips. 8) The device of claim 2 wherein the tips are pointed. 9) The device of claim 2 further comprising an upper fastener extending through the aperture in the clip and secured into a top track. 10) The device of claim 2 wherein the fasteners are curl-shaped. 11) A clip and steel stud combination, comprising: a steel stud having a stud width; and a clip having a front surface, a back surface and a pair of fasteners being set apart an inner width, the inner width sized at least as large as the stud width and the steel stud being positioned between the fasteners. 12) The clip of claim 11 further comprising: an aperture defined through the front and back surfaces. 13) The clip of claim 11 further comprising a top track at least a portion of which is positioned between the back surface and the tips of the clip while the stud is positioned between the fasteners. 14) The clip of claim 13 further comprising an upper fastener extending through an aperture in the clip and secured into the top track. 15) The clip of claim 11 further comprising a base track at least a portion of which is positioned between the back surface and the tips of the clip while the stud is positioned between the fasteners. 16) The clip of claim 15 further comprising an upper fastener extending through an aperture in the clip and secured into the base track. 